Diving into a sea of flavors at the Crab House in Charleston (photo by Vicki Baker)
Vicki Baker
After adventuring throughout the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex over the past nine years, Girls on Wheels (Vicki Baker, Susan Hebert, Cassie Richardson, Nancy Burns, Karen Dipietro, and Shirley Monge) thought it was due time to take flight beyond our Texas borders. In search of some Southern charm and hospitality, we headed to our destinations of Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia.
First stop, Charleston, known for its beautiful architecture, historic downtown area, charming cobblestone streets, and stunning waterfront views. Its church steeples, one after another, gave rise to its nickname “The Holy City.” Immersing ourselves in the unique culture of Charleston, we discovered the life stories of those who lived and worked in the stately homes and historic plantations, black and white, enslaved and free. The Historic District, Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation, The Citadel, City Market, Philadelphia Alley, Waterfront Park, Rainbow Row, The Battery, Church Street, “Four Corners of Law,” and Old Slave Mart were some of the many sites visited.
We learned of the Gullah Geechee community, descendants of enslaved people, who have preserved their heritage with demonstrations of sweetgrass basket making and traditional African-Creole songs. We sampled Southern comfort foods from well-known local restaurants on a walking culinary tour. Ending our visit, a concert showcasing the unique sounds defining Charleston’s rich musical heritage (gospel, Gershwin, music of the Civil War, and jazz).
En route to Savannah, we stopped in Beaufort, S.C., the tiny Lowcountry village, which served as the backdrop for movies Forrest Gump, The Big Chill, and G.I. Jane. The entire downtown area is a designated National Historic Landmark with its Antebellum and Victorian homes, evidence of the wealth derived from shipbuilding, then cotton, indigo, and rice plantations.
Savannah, a graceful Southern belle, oozed history and charm from its famous Riverfront to its public squares and stately live oaks standing alongside meticulously restored, historic homes. We hit the ground running, exploring what makes this city special. It’s historic sites called our name: Massie Heritage Center (its first public school), Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Forsyth Park, Victorian District, Andrew Low House, Isaiah Davenport House, City Market, River Street, a musical at the Historic Savannah Theater, and Leopold’s for ice cream.
And, of course, the iconic ghost tour rooted in actual historical events, which were the basis for many urban legends. (We didn’t need to put much stock into these fictional tales to believe the city was haunted, with many of today’s structures having been built on top of grave sites!)
There we have it: an absolutely magical trip from Charleston to Savannah, two grand dames of the South graced with their own distinctive charm. From endless coastal history and folklore, to decadent cuisine, magnificent historic homes, manicured gardens, and curtains of Spanish moss, the Lowcountry left us spellbound. It was a “tale of two cities,” as we uncovered the hidden charm and history that lurked beneath the surface of these sister cities.